Dad's Collection of Mugs

Smaller Lidded Stein- Hofbrauhaus, Munich Germany

The question always was 'what do we buy Dad for his birthday or Christmas'? Being German one of the default things was a Beer Stein or coffee mug.  He did not drink much - a beer now and then, but never out of one of his steins.  They sat on the top of the bookshelf in the front hall for years. 

Now we are getting to the age where we have to decide what is going to happen to all the 'stuff' my Mom & Dad accumulated over the years. None of our 6 kids want it so we are having to sell it.

Zurich, Switzerland Lidded Stein

Christmas 1977 Ice Skaters Lidded Stein

Father's Day 1979 William Tell.

Original Play Boy Club Mug / Glass with Bunny & Key

For lots more cups, mugs, glasses and steins please visit my eBay Store.

Straw Ornaments - Popular European Craft

Straw Angel

 I can't even imagine weaving or creating anything with straw.  It is a dying art still practiced in Europe. We bought these ornaments in Door County WI at Al Johnson's Swedish restaurant....

....where the goats roam the roof and eat the grass!!

6 pointed star with gold thread.

Reindeer with really long antlers!

3 dimensional in all directions.  Not flat.

And last but not least my favorite -  a snowflake or 8 pointed star.

 Please visit my eBay store for lots of other ornaments and lots of other great holiday gifts many under $10.00

 

Thanksgiving Rubber Ducks

One year I tied a little tag around the neck and used them as a place setting marker

 We have been selling these rubber ducks for several years and now have over 170 different ones.  I just thought they were so cute and had trouble choosing which ones to get, but then we found out there are alot of collectors.  Here are just a few of the 'family"!!

Pilgrim Boy

Pilgrim Girl

Native American Girl

Native American Boy / Brave

 

 

Please visit our eBay store to see all holiday ducks and so many others.  Great for thank you gifts, party favors, gift ties, to float in tub or hot tub, desk top or just for a collection.

Winter Holiday / Christmas Scarves

Red Poinsettias on white.

Our long 13" x 60" satin stripe scarves are perfect to add interest to what might be an otherwise boring outfit. Even though they look thin and light weight they are actually warm. The scarves can be washed and dried and come out looking brand new. 

All our scarves are new, with the original tags - not cut tags or 2nds!  They are made in Korea and we buy them from the importer in the garment district of New York City.

Christmas trees  Tied this way is perfect under a coat or jacket to keep the neck and chest warm

Merry Christmas in several different languages.  I like to wear them flipped over the shoulder too, especially with a high neck blouse or shirt.

Squares with holiday designs like holly, poinsettias. This will go with so many outfits.

Holly with berries and gold colored reindeer. Very popular this year!! Same as the others but I wanted to show the detail with the closeup.

Cutey snowman and snowy trees on blue background.  We also have it with a black background. Party time scarf!!

There are over 80 different designs including all the holidays in our eBay store. Or the link is on the top right of this page. 

Craft Shows Herbs Crafts Gifts Will Be At 2012

Time to get your Name on Rice Necklace / Key Chain custom made. It is that time of year and all the holiday craft shows are starting up and all our shows will be in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

We will be also showing our scarfs including a huge selection of the string scarves, gag gifts, Christmas gifts (stocking stuffers) and rubber ducks.

Coronado High School October 20 & 21 9AM - 3PM. Gifts & Crafts.

Foothills Elementary School Rockrimmon area  

Nov. 11/3 9AM - 4PM Gifts & Crafts

Liberty High School in the atrium against the west windows Nov. 10 9AM - 4PM Gifts & Crafts.

Sand Creek High School across from the stage Nov. 17 9AM - 3PM. Gifts & Crafts.

 

Doherty High School under the Spartan on the back wall. Dec. 1 9AM - 3PM Dec 2 11AM - 3 PM. Handmade Crafts only.

Palmer High School Dec 8 9AM - 4PM & Dec 9 12N - 4PM. Handmade crafts only. 

 The trend so far this year has been to have all the names of the kids, grandkids and grands put into the glass vial.  We are doing them as necklaces for the Moms & Grandmas and as a key chain for the Dads & Grandpas.

We do take phone orders, credit cards and will ship. 

If you can't make to a show please send an email expressing your interest in one of these unique very special gifts.

Sometimes People are Very Entertaining

 Having alot of friends on Facebook is pretty fun, but today a post from a relative really made me giggle.

This guy is over 70 and posted a link to his Swingers group. I doubt very much they are referring to dancing!!!!

This is an instance where I am so tempted to say something like - "have stock in Viagra?" or "when the RV is rocking don't come knockin" or so how is retirement? and many other inappropriate things. But will exercise restraint.

There is alittle background to this post too.  When we were RVing we attempted to meet up with him and his wife but it never happened.  Whew things do work out for the best!.  Then a while back I got an email from someone on his mailing list.  Just to be a smart Alec I replied 'to all' and received many emails back asking if we were swingers, too.  LOL

So you just never know who is doing what, when and with who. I sure could have lived the rest of my life without knowing this and hope I do not break out into hysterics when we see them again. 

Would you say something or how would you handle it, if at all or just let it go? 

Please visit my eBay store at HerbsCraftsGifts.com

Our Trip to Zion National Park, AZ 7/2012

In July we took off a week from eBay and drove to Zion National Park (just north east of St. George, Utah) and Las Vegas, Nevada.  Here are some of sights we saw on the way. 

River rafters on the Arkansas River in Western Colorado

Western Colorado - near Grand Junction

Near Colorado - Utah border

Eastern Utah - that is quite the median - see the vehicles on the other side!?

Ate lunch on 2nd day here in Salida, UT

View from the road driving in to Zion National Park

Zion - there are lots of hiking trails- see folks on top - they hiked up there! 

Rock climbing is allowed on any rock face.  Zion is like the Grand Canyon in reverse. Grand Canyon goes down, Zion goes up.

There are so many visitors to the park that the Park Service has these shuttles that take folks to many different stops on the valley floor.  We just rode the round trip along with hikers, rock climbers and photographers etc.

Guardians of the Spirit Road Ming Dynasty

All 12 - 6 different animals - 1 standing and 1 sitting or laying.

The Guardians of the Spirit Road are one-of-a-kind handcrafted miniature sculptures of huge, real and mythological creatures which stood guard for 4 long centuries on the roads that led to the tombs of the Emperors of the Ming Dynasty made of Jade colored glass.  

Elephants

These creatures were released in 1983 as a a limited edition by the Franklin Mint. 

Horses

Camels

Ch'i Lin (Foo Dog)

Hsieh Chai
Please see all these animals listed individually on eBay.


Do you like to stay in contact with family and friends who do not use the computer much?  Do you need to thank customers or business associates?  

Then Check out my website and send a greeting card for free with no strings attached. Promise we are not harvesting names or emails!!!

 

   

Miller Farms CSA Program 2012

Until last year I had no idea what the CSA program is =  (Community Supported Agricultural program).  I'm sure there are CSA programs all over the country but I only know about ours with Miller Farms from Loveland, CO. 

Here is how it works - There are 2 different subscription levels  - Full family plan = $600.00 and the Small family plan = $400.  Since there are only 2 of us we went in with another couple so it cost each of us $300.00.


Each week both of us can fill a 1/2 bushel basket with all the veggies they offer at several Farmers Markets they anchor in Colorado Springs. It has been interesting to see how the season progresses as to what is offered.The plan lasts from the middle of June to Oct which is 20 weeks.


Here is our haul each week so far. 

This is only part of it, Yellow and Red Beets; Cucumbers; Peppers, Green beans, English Peas, Tomatoes, Zucchini.

All Eggplant, Corn, Onions, Cabbage, Kohlrabi

Then Patty Pan Squash and Red Potatoes

Colorado Purple Potatoes; Cauliflower, Cilantro, Lettuce

White Eggplant, Summer Squash, Broccoli

We have eaten several all veggie dinners and have frozen alot but the best is that I have learned to pressure can and did 4 pints of grilled / roasted corn yesterday.


We can't wait for tomatoes to get to peak season we can can them and make tomato jam and green tomato relish.  YUMMY.